The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1887-04-15
An Old Friend.

lIlb HlluSL VI NOllNplo1biCi nv NO.
been holding over the fence with his
next door neighbor and gazed up the
road.
A little old man with huge valise
was coming down it.
"Hes pointing right here" said
Rufus Bissel.
The old man came on slowly, paus-
ed before the neighbors, set down his
valise, and searched their faces with
sharp, good hnmored eyes.
"NIakes me think of Joel Tobey, ]
declare for i'll" said Mr.. Stoker at
last.
"Just what l was thinking" said
Mr.. Bissel.
"a man that used to keep a store
here" Mr.. Stoker explained. "Bisse
and | clerked for him one winter.
Twenty-Five years ago, it was. He
went West"
Don't say so?" said the old man
with chuckle. Well he's come
back"
There was a chorus of EXPLANATIONS
and hearty Misunderstanding
"Tm calculating to stay week, q"
said the old man. "Pll divide it up
between you. l can'tspare more than
week
"Well, begin with me-" said Mr..
Stoker cordially and he dragged HIM
toward the house.
A pretty, dark-eyed girl opened the
door. "My daughter, Jennie" said
Mr.. Stoker, proudly. "And my wife, )"
he added. indicating the motherly
woman advancing to meet them.
"Things have gone along pretty slow
with Bissel and me, 4" said Mr.. Stoker.
"We've lived alongside OF each other
for twenty-five years without anything
happening to speak OF. Just now, to
be sure, we're rather looking for some
thing. Bissel's son, Wallace, had
some home from college lately, and he
and my girl there have taken regular
shine to each other No telling what'll
come OF it. And hows the West?"
"Well," the old man said, compla-
Gently, "silver INNINGS rather more
paying than storekeeping?"
what have you been doing all
thes e years." asked Mr.. Stoker.
"Silver mining, responded his guest.
"1,ve been at it for years, Stoker; and
Tve made my pile. | could buy up
this town and fifty like it,"
When Mr.. Stoker settled himself
against the fence the next afternoon
for q friendly chat with Mr.. Bissel in
like attitude on his side OF it it, was
with n perceptibly increased conde-
scension in his manner.
Ii he had been in the mood for OBJ
serving. he might have seen that Mr..
Bissel's demeanor had also under
gone a subtle change. But the fact
escaped his notice. Curious, wasn't
it, Tobey lighting down so sudden"
Mr.. Bissel remarked.
Mr.. Stoker assented.
Been doing wonderfully we'll OUT
West" Mr.. Bissel pursued. "Got n
silver mine out there. Maybe he men,
toned it?"
well, yes" said Mr. Stoker, guard
edy. Mr.. Bissel recrossed his legs and
coughed reilectively.
"Well, he did say something about
not speaking OF it," he said slowly,
"but | don't see as it'll do any hurt
to tell you | declare, 1t knocked me
all OF a heap, Stoker, and | don't
know how to tell it; but the old man
has made up his mind to leave me his
money. You see, he hasn't relative
in the world; and he says I'm as old a
friend as he's got, and he always did
think everything OF me-good gra-
tious, Stokerl"
For NJ. Stoker's face was slowly
lengthening.
That's what you're up to, is it?"
he said. raising himself from the fence
with an ominous jerk.
"Whatg" retorted his nearer.
There's been foul play" Mr.. StoK-
er went on, excitedly. ale told me,
did Joel Tobey. right here in my kitch-
IN. lust yesterday, that he was going
TO leave every cent OF his money to
me-"
Mr.. Bissel's face turned from red to
white. al don't believe IT." he said,
wrathfully. There was a palpita ting
silence. The two old friends. the
neiehbors OF twenty-five years, stood
rlaring at each Other.
Don't you ever set loot in my
house again" said Mr.. Stoker, un-
steadily. You nor your son neither.
I'd see my girl in her grave before I'd
see her married to hum"
"And I'd give my last drop OF blood